Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 30th August 2026
Last updated
Sat 29th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Areas of rain and low cloud around many mountains. Some drier periods in the morning, but into afternoon increasingly widespread heavy downpours and thunderstorms develop. Fairly light winds for much of the Highlands, becoming breezier England, stronger winds on Welsh mountains.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Local rain, showery bursts develop, varied low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, 5 to 15mph, speed tending to rise during day, at times 20mph afternoon onward.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small, sudden gusts in showers.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, showery bursts form
Local drizzly rain and an odd burst of rain in the morning, tending to drift in from the south. Some drier windows, but bursts of rain develop more widely into afternoon, locally more frequent in south, risk isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, some breaks for a time
High terrain starts in fog, varied banks to lower terrain, locally into glens where rain falls. Some breaks form to higher slopes for a time, though any high summits breaks fleeting, and then returning more extensively in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, rare weak sun mainly toward the north. Visibility very good where dry, but reduced to poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, rising slightly, locally to 12C away from showers.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 31st August 2026
Last updated
Sat 29th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less early in day, becoming westerly, increasing to 25-30mph into afternoon, stronger gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small at first, but becoming blustery affecting ease of walking in exposure; marked wind chill developing.
How Wet?
Showers moving east
Patchy areas of rain in the morning, some drier windows. Showers develop and move eastward into afternoon. Brief heavy bursts, small chance of thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest morning, rising toward tops
Varied cloud banks fairly widely to low elevations early in day. The base tending to rise to leave much cloud above 1000m, lowering patches in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, rare glimpses of sun. Visibility good away from showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C tending to lower later in day to 7C. Feeling near or later below freezing as wind increases.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Last updated
Sat 29th Aug 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 40mph, speeds may vary, risk over 50mph with stronger gusts high Cairngorms for periods.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking conditions, buffeting affecting balance on high exposed terrain, risk difficult. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain for a time
Rain on and off, but a few hours of more persistent rain likely, heaviest in western Cairngorms NP. Later scattered showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to tops
Covering the mountains fairly widely above 800-1000m in the morning, lowest in west. Bases rising and breaks forming to upper slopes. Patches come and go in west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun break through with time. Visibility reduced in rain, then more often good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C, little change, coolest northwest. Feeling sub-zero in the wind, -5C in stronger speeds higher up.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A generally unsettled outlook during the first two weeks of September with frequent rain and strong winds. Low pressure dominates and a series of frontal systems move in from the Atlantic. West to southwesterlies, often gale force over the mountains in the second half of this week. Heavy rain most prolonged in the west where increasingly wet underfoot, streams rising to be in spate. Low cloud often covering the hills. Temperatures varying, some notably cooler days for Scotland, at times more humid air mainly toward the south.